Casket sealing means



Dec. 12, 1950 J. J. M EWAN CASKET SEALING MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledFeb. 2, 1946 m1, Q /WKaM W flrrafo'yj INVENTOR.

llfllillrlllfn Dec. 12, 1950 J, J. MCEWAN 2,533,827

CASKET SEALING MEANS Filed Feb. 2, 1946 2 Sheets-SheetZ &

INVEN TOR.

,4 Tram/75X Patented Dec. 12, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE p s SENGM AN James J. lviehwan, Batesvill'e, Ind assigncr to The EatesvilieCasket Company, Batesville, 11111., a corporation at Indiana ApplicationFebruary 2, 1946, Serial No. 645,112

11 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in caskets or burial cases and isparticularly directed to caskets which are hermetically sealed. Morespecifically, the invention resides in the provision of an improvedsealing arrangement for caskets of the type employing separately movablehead and foot lid sections. For an illustration of the type of a casketto which the present improvements are related, reference may be had tothe previously issued patent to Purkiss, 2,284,921, issued June 2, 1942.

It has been the object of the present inventor to provide an improvedcasket construction wherein the casket is hermetically sealed by meansof gaskets extending between the a jacent margins of the body and lidsections and more particularly wherein the sealing means between thebody and. the lid sections cooperate with sealing means between thesections themselves to provide for a complete seal at all points whenthe two sections are drawn down into contact with the body.

The type of casket which employs what is known as "a cut-top, or a topcomposed of sections which are independently movable, requires a. highlyeflicient sealing arrangement between the sections as well as betweenthe sections and the body of the casket. The sealing relationshipbetween the transverse sealing means, that is, the

sealing means between the sections, and the seal- 5 ing means between,the sections and the body, presents a problem which is exceedinglydifficult of solution as will be evident from an understanding of therelationship of the sections and the body. The problemparticularlycenters itself in the association of the seals at the point where thetransverseseal contacts or is associated with the main body seal. Thepresent inventor has provided an improved sealing means which completelyseals the casket particularly at the juncture of the gaskets abovereferred to.

Other objects and certain advantages of the invention will be more fullyapparent from a description of thedrawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a burial case or. casket of thecut-top type incorporating the improved sealing means, the view showingthe head section of the top partially open.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the relationshipof an end ofthe transverse seal with the seal between the sections andthe-body.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken at the region of the jointillustrating the foot section resting in position on the body seal priorto being clamped down. 7

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken similar to Figure 3 but showing bothtop sections drawn down into hermetically. sealed: position on the body.with theend ofthe transverse sealtightly 2,. ngaged in hermeticallysealed relationship to the body seal.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line E5, Figure 1,illustrating a top section resting upon the body seal prior to beingclamped down.

Figure 6 is a view taken similar to Figure "5 showing the sectionclamped down in position.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken longitudinally of the casket throughthe transverse joint show} ing the sections about to be broughttogether.

Figure 8 is a view taken similar to Figure 7 showing the sections inclamped position with the transverse seal fullyefiective for sealing thejoint between thesections.

Figure v9 is a perspective view of a burial case or casket of thecut-top type similar to Figure '1 but showing a modifiediorm of sealingmeans.

Figure 1 0 is a fragmentary View illustrating the sealing means at thejoint or juncture of the transverse seal and the seal between thesections of the body, this View showing the headsection in partiallopened position.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary top plan View of one end of the gasket whichis associated with the body oi the casket.

Figure 12 is a sectional view taken on line i2l2, Figure 11, detailingthe pocket or df pression in the gasket adapted to receive theend of thetransverse seal as well as the, skived joint ich, ma s h. he. d ag t n ft a e n h ad en ors,

re 31s. a seq qna iew ak s ar 9 Figure 12 but showing the head sectiongask et pos t n "w th the nd Q th rans e e neme tioned in thepocket.

F u 14 i a ction v w aken milar is Figure 13 showing the seals inposition when the lid ns ar cl p down and th t netis seal is procured.

Figure 15 is a perspective view taken similar to Figure 10, but showingthe gasket which seals the foot sectien to, the body, attached tothefiange of the foot section. 4

ef r n h raw n s, a s t i ene all shown in Figure 1. It is evident thatit is un necessary to illustrate any details of the casket beyond thosewhicharevital toan understanding of the improved sealing means of thisinvention; The casket comprises, in general, a body portion I ii, a headtop section I I, and a foot topsection 12. These are hinged to the rearof the body in the conventional manner (not shown). The. casket includesthe usual handles I3.

A clamping means is provided for pulling the sections down upon the bodywhen the casket (is to be finally sealed up. The ineansiqr operating thepull-down apparatus protrudes at oneend of the casket as at M. Thepull-down studs 15 are apparent; on the underside ofv the raised headsec- 'spective sections (see Figure 8) standing of a means for clampingor drawing the sections down upon the body.

The body and lid sections of the casket are constructed of metal. Therespective marginal flanges l8 of the body are formed by turnin themetal inwardly and downwardly as at It. The flanges if) of the lids areformed by turning the metal inwardly and upwardly as at [9a. One of thecut-top sections incorporates a laterally ex- .tendedflange whichprovides a horizontal ledge supporting the transverse sealing gasket 2i.This ledge is reinforced by the provision of a downwardly extendedflange 22. The adjacent top'lsec'tion provides an overhanging flange orhorizontal 23 of the same width as the flange 20 and adapted to engagethe top of the sealing gasket 2| as the lid sections are clamped downupon the body section."

The transverse gasket 2| provides, in cross section, an undulatingsurface, in this instance there being two outer ridges 24 and a curveddepression between them. Normally, before clamping action, this gasketis of less width than the width of the flanges 20 and 23. However, whenthe clamping action is imparted and the flanges are brought togetherupon the gasket, the rubber flows so as to fill up the entire spacebetween the flanges, the. undulations aiding in the lateral flowing ofthe gasket. Its sides, therefore, come into snug contact with the sidewalls 25 and 26 of the re- The body gasket 21 in this case is securedupon the top surface ofthe flange l8 of-the body and includes an innermarginal lip 28 holding it against outward displacement. 'This gasketlikewise includes a plurality of longitudinal ribs or beads making thesurface undulatin and aiding materially in the flowing of the rubber ina transverse direction as the margins I6 of the top sections are broughtdown and clamped against the seal (see Figure 6).

The body gasket at the front and back includes depressions or pockets 29into which the front and rear ends 30 of the transverse seal are fitted.These'pockets have lateral dimensions slightly greater than the lateraldimensions of the ends of the transverse gasket and initially these endsfit quite freely and easily into the sockets or pockets (see Figure 3).When the clamping pressure is applied, the rubber at the ends of thetransverse gasket flows laterally in all directions and likewise theraised margin 3| around the pocket flows in all directions, the rubberof the transverse seal and the body seal merging or flowingtogether asshown in Figure 4. Thus, a very effective joint is provided between thetransverse seal and the body seal and the casket is completelyhermetically sealed at all-points.

In the modification shown in Figures 9 to, 14 inclusive, the gasketshave been arranged in a different manner with respect to the body andthe sections. In this instance, thatportion of the body gasket which isindicated at between the foot section and the body is securedto the bodyflange 18. In top plan view, this portion of I the gasket is U-shapedextending around "but one fend margin of the body. The other section ofthe 4 body and top sealing gasket, namely 3c, is attached to the flange[6 of th head section.

The ends of the respective gaskets 35 and 36 will overlap when thesections are down upon the body as will be apparent from Figure 13.These adjacent and superimposed ends are oppositely skived or chamferedso as to provide long sealing surfaces 3l3l which engage at the joint.The transverse gasket 38 in this instance is formed as apart of the headsection gasket being attached to the underside of the overhanging flange23 thereof (Figure 9). Where this transverse flange joins and isintegrally a part of the head section gasket 31, the rubber is thickenedas at 39, the ends of the transverse section being formed so as to fiteasily with clearance into the pockets 29 in the ends of the body gasket35 adjacent the chamfered portions.

Thus, it will be evident that this arrangement provides the same sealedjuncture between transverse and body gasket-s as disclosed in the firstmodification; In this instance, the transverse gasket has its undersideformed in'the same man her as the upper side of the transverse gasket ofthe first form and this surface will engage and cooperate with the ledgeor flange 28 of the adjacent foot section. In the instance of the bodyand comes in contact with the flange N3 of the surface is attached tothe foot lid section. In-

body, independently movable asmuch as lowering the foot section alwaysprecedes lowering of the head section, it is obvious that this lastmodification is a practical'embodiment of the invention. This is evidentfrom the relationship of the'gasket supporting and sealing flanges atthe adjacent ends of the sections. Lowering of the foot sectionmayeither precede or be coincident with the lowering of the head section. 7

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a burial casket of the type including, a body, and independentlymovable top sections mounted on the body at the rear thereof and havintheir inner ends disposed immediatelyadjacent when closed; marginalsealing gasket means extending entirely around and between the adjacentmargins of the body andtop sections, a transverse sealinggasket adaptedto sealthejoint between the top sections, said transverse. gasketmounted on the inner end .wallof one of said top sections, and saidmarginal sealing gasket means having pockets adjacent the ends of thetransverse gasket at the front and back of the casket and the ends ofsaid transverse gasket. adapted to' engage in said pockets whereby therubber around the margin of the pockets andof the ends of the transversegasket flow together for forming a hermetic seal. when clamping pressureis applied to bring the top sections down upon thebody. 2. In a burialcasket of thetype including a top sections mounted on the body at therearthereof and having their inner ends disposed immediately adjacentwhen closed, a marginal sealing gasket extending around the margin of"the body adjacent to the marginal flange of the foot-section;

'5 a second marginal sealinggasket-- extending around the margin of thehead section, those ends of the respective gaskets which are disposedadjacently when the sections are lowered overlapping for forming asealed joint, and a transverse gasket adapted to seal the joint betweenthe top sections, said transverse gasket being mounted along the innerend wall of 'the 'head section, and integrally connected to the marginalgasket of the head topsection, the ends of said marginal gasket havingsealing engagement with themarginal gasket which is disposed beneat thefoot top section.

3. In a burial casket of 'the type including a ibudy, independently,movable top sections mounted on the body at the rear thereof and havingtheir .inner ends disposed immediately adjacent when closed, a marginalsealing gasket means extending entirely around and between the -adjacentmargins of the body and top sections, a transverse sealing gasketadapted to seal the joint between the top sections, said transversegasket mounted relative to the inner end wallof one of said topsections, the ends of said transverse gasket directed downwardly towardthe marginal sealing gasket means and the end surfaces thereof abuttingthe marginal gasket means when said top section is closed.

4. In a burial casket of the type including a body, independentlymovable top mounted on the body at the rear thereof and having theirinner ends disposed immediately adjacent when closed, a marginal sealinggasket extending around the margin of the body adjacent to the marginalflange of the foot section, a second marginal sealing gasket extendingaround the margin of the head section, those ends of the respectivegaskets which are disposed adjacently when the sections are loweredoverlapping for forming a sealed joint, and a transverse gasket adaptedto seal the joint between the top sections, said transverse gasket beingmounted along the inner end wall of the head section and integrallyconnected to one of the marginal gaskets.

5. In a burial casket of the type including a body, independentlymovable top sections mounted on the body at the rear thereof and havingtheir inner ends disposed immediately adjacent when closed, a marginalsealing gasket extending entirely around the margin of the body, atransverse sealing gasket adapted to seal the joint between the topsections, said transverse gasket mounted adjacent the inner end wall ofone of said top sections, said top section including a flange forsupporting the gasket, and said marginal sealing gasket having pocketsadjacent the ends of the transverse gasket at the front and back of thecasket and the ends of said transverse gasket adapted to engage in saidpockets whereby the rubber around the margin of the pockets and of theends of the transverse gasket flow together when clamping pressure isapplied to bring the top sections down upon the body.

6. In a burial casket of the type including a body, independentlymovable top sections mounted on the body at the rear thereof and havingtheir inner ends disposed immediately adjacent when closed, a marginalsealing gasket extending entirely around the margin of the body, atransverse sealing gasket adapted to seal the joint between the topsections, said transverse gasket mounted adjacent the inner end wall ofone of said top sections, said marginal sealing sections gasket beingsplit adjacent the adjoining inner ends of the-top sections and asealing joint provided effective when the sections are lowered on thebody, one section of the marginal sealing gasket having pockets adjacentthe ends of the transverse gasket at the front and back of the casketand the ends of said transverse gasket adapted to engage in said pocketswhereby the rubber around the margin of the pockets and of the ends ofthe transverse gasket flow together when clamping pressure is applied tobring the top sections down uponthebody.

7. In a burial casket of the type including;

a body portion, a top structure for the casket consisting ofindependently movable lid sections having their inner ends adjacentlydisposed when closed, gasket means extending around the casket betweenthe top structure and the body portion and a transverse gasket means forsealing the 'jointbetwe'en the lid sections, said transversegasket'means having its ends engageable perpendicularly with the firstnamed gasket, the end faces of the transverse gasket abutting, when thelid sections are closed, the top surface of the first named gasketmeans, the ends of said transverse gasket extending slightly below saidlid sections whereby the end surfaces thereof will be spread intotightly sealed relationship when clamping pressure is exerted on saidlid sections to bring them down upon the body.

8. In a burial casket of the type including a body portion andindependently movable lid sections having their inner ends adjacentlydisposed when closed; a gasket extending around and attached to themargin of one of said movable lid sections, said gasket having sealingportions projecting beyond the inner end of said movable lid section,and a second gasket extending around and attached to the sealing marginof the other movable lid section, said latter gasket including atransversely extended loop disposed along the inner edge of said lattermovable lid section and adapted to cooperate with the adjacent inner endof the other lid section for sealing engagement therewith when the lidsections are closed, the extended portions of the first-named gasketbeing engaged :by the secondnamed gasket to constitute seals where therespective gaskets engage when the movable lid sections are closed.

9. In a burial casket of the type including a body portion andindependently movable lid sections having their inner ends adjacentldisposed when closed; a gasket extendin around and between the marginsof the body and one of said movable lid sections, said gasket projectingbeyond the inner end of said movable lid section, and a second gasketextending around and attached to the sealing margin of the other movablelid section, said latter gasket including a transversely extended loopdisposed along the inner edge of said latter movable lid section andadapted to cooperate with the adjacent inner end of the other lidsection for sealing engagement therewith when the lid sections areclosed, the projected portions of the first-named gasket and thesecond-named gasket including cooperating sealing formations engagingwhen the movable lid sections are closed.

10. In a burial casket of the type including a body portion andindependently movable lid sections having their inner ends adjacentlydisposed when closed; a gasket extending around and attached to themargin of the body adjacent one of said movable lid sections, saidgasket 7 having sealing portions projecting beyond the inner end of saidmovable lid section, and a second gasket extending around and attachedtothe sealing margin of the other movable lid section, said latter gasketincluding a transversely extended loop disposed along the inner edge ofsaid latter movable lid section and adapted to cooperate with theadjacent inner end of the other lid section for sealing engagementtherewith when the lid sections are closed, the'extended portions of thefirst-named gasket being engaged by the second-named gasket toconstitute seals where the respective gaskets engage when the movablelid sections are closed.

11. In a burial casket of the type including a body, independentlymovable top sections mounted on the body at the rear thereof and havingtheir inner ends disposed immediately adjacent when closed, a marginalsealing gasket extending around the margin of the head lid sectionadjacent to the marginal flange'of the correspondingbody section, asecond marginal sealing gasket extending around the margin oi the footlid section, those ends of the respective gaskets which are disposedadjacently when the sections are lowered overlapping for forming a sealjoint, and a transverse gasket adapted to seal the joint between thetopv sections, said transversegasket being mounted along themher endwall of the foot lid section and integrally connected to the marginalgasket of the foot lid section.

, JAMES J. MoEWAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Date Purkiss June 2, 1942

